In abstruse speculations, if we fail of satisfaction in one
direction, we must inquire in another, 234. A face or form is seen
in the moon; how is this to be explained? 234. The appearance of a
form in the moon is not the result of any acuteness or dulness of
our vision, 234, 235. The appearance in question some think may be
a reflection of the ocean from the moon’s disc, 236. This opinion
refuted, 236, 237. Some think the moon to be a compound of air and
fire, a disturbance of which causes the appearance in question, 238.
This notion disproved, 238, 239, 242. That the earth is a larger body
than the moon, is shown by eclipses of the moon, 241. The moon must
be a solid body, though much lighter than the earth, 241, 242. The
spherical form of the earth, the antipodes, and all motion tending
towards the earth’s centre, are pronounced absurdities, 243, 244.
The moon is not far from the earth, and feels its influence, though
not of the same substance, 245, 246. Computation of the respective
distances of the sun and moon from the earth, 246. The spherical form
of the earth again denied, 247. If the earth is in the middle, of
what is it the middle? not of the universe, surely, 247. Relations
of bodies _above_ and _beneath_, 248. We are not, in our philosophy,
to reduce every thing to the place to which it naturally belongs,
249, 250. All things do not follow their natural course, 250. In the
human body the heaviest parts are not placed lowermost, 251. So it
may be in the structure of the world, 252. The moon, though placed in
high heaven, may be a heavy body, 253. It is not therefore composed
of fire and air, 253. But has the moon the nature of earth? 254.
Does the moon reflect the light of the sun? 255. Reasons why this is
probable, 256. When the moon appears only half-enlightened, ought not
the light reflected to come at right angles? and is it so? 256-258.
Aspect of the moon when gibbous or crescent, 258. Only solid bodies
reflect light; the moon therefore must be a solid body, 259, 260.
That the moon is a solid body is farther proved by eclipses of the
sun, 260-262. Size of the moon; as large as Peloponnesus, 261. Its
proportionate size in relation to the earth, 261. Further arguments
from eclipses, 263-265. Objections answered, 266-268. The moon is
not a star, or a burning body, 266. Its nature is like that of the
earth, 268. This need not impugn her divinity, 268. There may be
cavities and other inequalities on the surface of the moon, and these
may be immensely large, so as to be seen by us, 269. The shadow of
Mount Athos falls on Lemnos, the shadow being immensely larger than
the mountain, 270. An objection from this answered, 270-273. Is the
moon inhabited? is it fit for the abode of animated beings? 274,
275. Answer, (1.) If it be not, it does not prove that the moon was
made in vain, 276. (2.) The moon may be inhabited: we can see no
reasons to the contrary, 277-279. Objections considered, 277, 278.
That the moon is inhabited is not more incredible than that the ocean
should be inhabited, 280. A description of the isle Ogygia, in the
Western Ocean, the abode of Saturn; its inhabitants; the phenomena
and customs of the place, 281-283. Man is compounded of three parts:
the body, the soul, and the understanding, 286. The understanding is
from the sun, the soul from the moon, that is from Proserpine, 286.
Every soul, dismissed from the body, wanders for a time between the
earth and the moon, 286. When they reach the moon, they behold its
greatness and beauty, 288. The moon described as it appears to them,
289. The Elysian fields are there, 289. If any of the dwellers there
commit a fault, they are thrust down to earth again, 289. After a
long time, they come back to the moon, 291. This about the moon may
be taken for what one pleases, 292.